Bottle filling and capping means.



L L. VALERIUS & 0. LARSEN. BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. \5. 1918.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Q B S? fix a WITNESSES: 17 0d mgagygom: v 1 I (e 0723 a 67" ZZS GM, I; LEV, By T L v ATTORNEYS? v T. L. VALERIUS & 0. LARSEN,

BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MEANS.

AJPUCATION FILED JANAS. 1918.

Patented Dec. 31,- 1918. A 5 suns-sum 2.

W m x Q INVENTORQ.

WITNESSES: I w s L fieodwej 7&7677153 1 OZQf/Z/dISeH/ I 1 ATTORNEY) 7 T. L. VALERLUS & 0. LARSEN.

BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN \5. 191B.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EIIELIIM 5% v Patented Dec.\31,1918.

- ralafjaizsevv ALL. VA'LERIUS & 0. LABS-EN.

BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I5. IQIB- Patented Dec. 31,1918.

WITNESSES;

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BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED 1 AN.15.1918'.

1.289373. ratenteh Dec. 31,1918.

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Fla-11 may MIMWM A T T ORNE Y5 WITNESSES FIG. 18.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

THEODORE L. VALERIUSAND OLAF LARSEN, OF FORT ATKINSON. WISCONSIN,

ASSIGNORS TO THE GREAMERY PACKAGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BOTTLE FILLING AND CAPPING MEANS.

' Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Original application filed July 10. 1914, Serial No. 850,123. Divided and this application filed January 15, 1918. Serial No.'211,922.

capper in place.

" the cappers. "end of the machine, the lower portion being To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, THEODORE L. VA- LrnuiTs and OLAF Lausnx, citizens of the lnited States, residing at Fort Atkinson. in the county of Jefferson and State of VViscousin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle Filling and Capping Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for filling and capping bottles, particularly such bottles as are used for milk and cream, the invention being particularly, applicable to machines for filling and capping cased bottlcs; and this application is a. division of 7 our copending application Serial No. 850,123, filed July 10, 1914.

Generally stated, the object of the inven tion is to simplify the construction of machines in this class. Thisobject is attained in part by using capping devicesas well as filling devices which have no operative connection with the driving mechanism and which are actuated simply by the operation of pressing the bottles against the capping devices. The means for forwarding the bottle cases also has been simplified. The mechanisms are so arranged that it is not necessary to alternately start and suspend their operation, but on the contrary the machine may be run continuously, cases of empty bottles being placed upon the machine at the convenience of the operator.

Other advantages and improvements will be apparent from anexamination of the description and drawings, in which latter Figure 1 is a top plan View of a machineembody i ng the features of our invention. Fig. 2 is a, view taken approximately in the plane of dotted line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 is a view of one of the cappers,showing a bottle in operative relation thereto. Fig. 2 illustrates a means for detachably securing each Fig. 2 is a 'fragmental view illustrating the means for supporting Fig. 3 is a view ofthe-front sectioned in the plane of dotted line 83 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top plan view ofthe elevator and its guiding means. Fig. 5 is a fragmental side elevation showing the driving means. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of dotted line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a fragi'nental view showing the forwarding mechanism, the view being taken in the plane of dotted line 7-? of Fig. (3. Fig. 8 is an elevation partly in section illustrating one of the cappers. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the capper in association with a bottle. Fig. 10 is a transverse section on line 10 of Fig. 8, and Figs. 11 and 12 are transverse sections on line 11 of Fig. 9 and line 12 of Fig. 8, respectively.

The embodiment; herein shown of our invention comprises two standards or side frames 1 and 2 "rigidly secured together in any suitable manner. Upon these standards are su 'iportcd a stationary tank 3 for the liquid with which the. bottles are to be filled, and a stationary plate 4 which supports the cappers. The tank is provided with filling valves 5 of any suitable or well-known charactor, said valves being arranged in position to register with the bottles contained Within a bottle case. Herein the'valves 5 are shown as arranged to fill a case of twelve quart bottles, but it will be understood that the valves might be arranged to fill pint bottles, oi

which there are usually twenty in a case.

The valves 5 are preferably arranged in two groups, there being one dozenvalves in each group. The groups of filling valves are ar-' ranged along the machine in position to op-' era-to successively. The first group of filling, valves fills the bottles in a given case partially full. The second group of valves completes the filling ofthe bottles. An advantage of thus filling the bottles in two steps is that the foam caused by the initial part of the filling is allowed to subside before the filling is completed.

The cappers are so constructed that they are operable simply by bottle therewith. In order to provide the space required for the cappers, they are divided into two groups of six cappers each, the cappers of each group in the presentv in engagement of the stance being arranged in staggered relation to each other. The first group is positioned so as to cap half of the bottles in a case,

some in each row, while the second group.

caps the remaining bottles in the case.

The bottle cases are moved along beneath the groups of filling valves and cappers, and

are periodically-raised to place the bottles in operative relation to the valves and cappendent of 'gagement of thebottles therewith. The

construction and mounting ofthe cappers may be described ast'olloivs:

Each rapper comprises .a tubular body (3 having a bell-mouth T and a cap magazine 8. the magazine being alined with and rigidly secured to the body in any suitable way. The magazine extends slidably through an opening in the camier-supporting plate 4. 9 is a cam fixed to a collar 15and arranged l to actuatc a cap-ejecting slide, 9 which is ltt'lpl'Otttldt. transversely in the body and is arranged to singly and successively eject the lowermost cap in the magazine. The ejected cap tails onto an eXt'eriorly-positioned curved guide it" which is pivoted at its upper cnd and by which the. cap is directed into position t hev depressed into the bottle by a cap-seating pilnch 1O slidablc in the body (1. the guide it being s\\'tlngto one. side by the plunger as the latter descends. The punch 10 is supported from the .plate -t. by means of two rods ll. the upper ends of which extend slidably through pen ings in the plate -l. Xbovesaid plate the rods are. provided with an annulargroove to lit the narrow portion ot a key-hole slot 12 in a washer I). Said washer lies upon the plate -l and is held against rotation by means ot a lock ;pin l-l tixcd in the plate -t and passing l'rcely through the wide portion of one. of the slots 12. The cam it is supported by aring 15 in which the magazinc is t'reely slidable. The ring 15 bears against shoulders ll formed on the rods 11 by enlarging the diameter ot the same. (oiled springs it) arc. interposed between the plate l and the ring 15. said springs normally holding the. cap-seating punch 10 and the ring if in the position shown in Figs. L and N. The lower ends of the rods it are col ncctcd t a cross rod it) entered through the punch 10 (Fig. 1:!) with its opposite ends protruding through vertical slots U" in the. body ti. which slots permit. relative longitudinal movement 01 the. punch and body- When the parts are in their normal or inoiwrativeposition. the body (3 and magazine H thereon are supported by the ends ot' the rod ll) bearing in the upper ends of the slots (1; When a bottleprcssed against. the bell-mouth T. the body i and the magazine 6 rise until the bottle 'ring 15 to rise,

strikes the cap-seating punch 10, a cap having previously been fed into position between the bottle and the punch. When the cap is fully seated, the upper end of the l body 6 strikes 'the ring 15. Continuing upward movement of the bottle causes the of the pressure of the springs 16 and permitting the punch torise with the bottle. When the bottle'is lowered, the body .6 and the magazine 8 descend by gravity to their normal position.

filling valves and the cappers upon two parallel slide rails 17. the forward and rear portions of said rails being rigidly secured lt will be seen that the rails 17. cross pieces 18 and bars 19 form a rigid frame. Said frame is supported for reciprocation upon rollers .20. said rollers being carried by a drip pan ortrongh .21 which is rigidly secured-to the standards 1 and 2. This drip pan is of open rectangular shape through the central opening of which the elevating means to be later described operates. The bars 19 extend througl-i guideways '22 (Figs. 3 and 7) formed in the side edges of the trough 21. To the forward end of each of the rails 17 is secured a support '23 in which rollersQ-l are journaled. Fixed to the. rails 17 are spacer blocks -25 tor the purpose of spacing the bottle cases the proper distance.

.apart' so that "the bottles therein shall register with the tilting valves and the rappers.

' The rear ends oi the roller supports '23 serve as stops to position the last .case. 2e are stationary case guides (see Fig. 2) and '27 are stationary rail guard-s (see .Figs. 1. t) and 7),. a t

The lnils ll are moved toward'the rear end of the machine to advance the cases by means of a cam :25 (see Fig. 2i fixed upon a shaft '3 said shat t being rotatably mounted thus relieving the punch 10.

The bottle cases, are supported beneath the Hit! cattle being secured to thet'rnwvard bracket lH'andrunning over a guide sheave 39. ltv will be seen that as the shaft 29 is rotated. the lillls' ll will be recipl'ocatcd.

.\I'ter each rem'w ardmoveinent of the rails tT the l'our bottle cases that arc directly beneath the tilting valves and the cap' pcrs are lifted oll' the rails to place the bottles in operative relation to the tilting valves and the cappcrs, by means ot an, elevator 40 (see Figs. 2 and 6), said elevator being provided at opposite sides with guides 41 which are mounted for vertical movement in guideways 42 formed upon the inner sides of the standards 1 and 2. elevator 40 is a table 43 (see Figs. 3 and 6). on the upper side of the table 43 are four sets of ribs 44 (Fig. 6), each set of ribs being adapted to extend into a bottle case far enough to bear against and thus support the wires or other elements that constitute the bottom of the case when the case is elevated. lVhen the bottles are pressed against the filling valves and the eappers, the pressure of the bottles upon the wires is borne by the ribs 44, thus obviating injurious stress upon the wires. I

The elevator tO is raised by means of the cam 28 (see Fig. '2), said cam operating against a roller 45 which is located at the pivotal joint of the toggle arms 46. The lower toggle arm'is pivoted at 47. the upper toggle arm being pivoted to the elevator 51.9 at 48.

To oneend of the shaft 29 is fixed a spur 'g'ear wheel 49 (Fig. 1) that meshes with a .pinion 50.

The pinion 50 rotatably mounted upon a stud shaft 51 on the standard 1. The pinion is rigidly fixed to a change gear wheel that meshes with a pinion 53. the latter being rigidly mounted upon a shaft .34. One end of the shaft- 54- carries a drive pulley A platform 56 is secured to and extends between the forward endof the rail guards 27. Said platform is located just al ove the plane of the rails 17. so that the rails may extend beneath the platform when the rails move. forward. X

Assumin the partsto be in the position shown in l ig. 2. the operation is as follows:.

The cam 28 actuates the elevator 40 to raise the four bottle cases and hold them elevated for a time. The operator places a case of empty but tles on the rollers 24. As the roller 30 runs off the dwell 28 the weight 37 draws the rails 1? forward (to the right). The ease which the operator placed upon the rollers it is prevented from being carried to the right, as the rear edge of the platform 56 acts as a stop to detain the case; conse quently asthe rollers 24 pass under the platform 56 said bottle. case is pushed oil the rollers onto the rails 1'? between the rear ends of the supports 23 and til 2 adjacent pair of spacer blocks .\s the roller 45 runs oil the dwell '1 the elevator descends, depositing the bottle cases on the rails 17. As the roller 30 runs off the dwell 28', the rails 17 move rearwardly, therebv advancing the cases so that the bottle case last placed upon the rails is beneath the first group of filling valves. The elevator then lifts four of the cases leaving the fifth case. containing filled and capped bottles standing onthc rails. if

Upon the top of the the case containing filled and capped bottles Itwill be seen am the filling devices and cappers are actuated solely by the operation of lifting the bottles into contactwith said valves and cappers. The only poivei' driven mechanisms of the machine are the elevator and the case forwarding rails. No bottle cases are in transit while 'bottles are being filled and capped. hence there is no danger of interference between the cases, and no necessity of providing safety devices to prevent such interfcrenceI By reason ofthese factors it has been possible to reduce the mechanism of the machine to a minimum. with a corresponding saving in cost and increased ease of operation.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe use of any particular number of filling valves and rappers, arranged in any particular manner, but that one or more bottles may be passed through the machine and each successively acted upon by two filling valves and one capper. In the following claims the word group is intended to mean two or more.

We claim as our invention:

1. A bottle filling and capping machine having, in combination devices for operating upon bottles each operable solely by the engagement of a bottle therewith, a horizontally reciproeatory bottle support operable to move a plurality of bottles into position beneath said devices, an elevator, and means for cooperatively actuating the elevator and the support whereby to raise said bottles into engagement with said devices and to lower them to the support in an advanced position relative thereto.

2. In a cased bottle filler and capper, the combination of two groups of filling valves, each group containing as many .valves as there are bottles in a case, two groups of cappers, each group containing half as many cappers as "there are bottles in a case, the cappers of the first group being adapted to cap certain of the bottles in a given case, and

-- the cappcrs of the second group being adapted to cap the remaining bottles in a given case, means for simultaneously lifting four cases into operative relation with the filling valves and cappers and for lowering said cases, and means operatively associated with the lifting means for forwarding cases step by step past the series of filling valves and cappers.

3. In a machine for filling bottles and. applying caps thereto, a plurality of automatically operable filling valves and cappers, a horizontally reciprocatory bottle plying caps thereto a plurality of filling valves and one or more cappers each oper able solely by the engagement of a bottle therewith. a horizontally reciprocatory bott le support operable to move a plurality of bottles into position beneath said devices, an

elevator, and means for cooperatively actuating the elevator and the support whereby to raise said bottles into engagement with said filling and capping devices and to lower them to the support in an advanced position relative thereto, there beiug'half asmany cappers as filling valves.

'5. In a machine for filling bottles and-applying caps thereto, filling devices, capping devices comprising cap feeding and applying means, means for moving a plurality of bottles in a. horizontal plane beneath said devices, and means for simultaneously lifting a bottle into'engagementwitheach ot' said filling and capping devices, said filling and capping devices being operable solely by the engagement of the, bottles therewith.

6. A bottle filling and capping machine having, in combination, filling and capping 1313 devices. each 0 erable solel b the en a e- .Y Y c ment of a bottle therewith, a pair of spaced supporting rails Slidably mounted beneath said devices and arranged to support a plurality of bottle cases in spaced relation, an

- vices and to lower them to the rails in an advanced position relative thereto.

7. In combination, an elevator, means for actuating the elevator, means above the elevator for operating on bottles carried by the elevator, case-moving n'i'einbers below said operating means,'a platform at one end of the machine frame, means for reciprocating said case-moving members to move said members beneath said platform and withdraw said members therefrom, theportions of said members adjacent to the platform being adapted to support a bottle case, and said platform acting as a stop to detain the case from movement to shift its position from the case-moving members when they move toward the platform.

8. A machine for operating upon bottles having, in combination, a plurality of filling valves and one or more capping devices, there being half many capping devices as filling valves, an elevator, horizontally reciprocatory means for advancing a bottle step by step from a position beneath one' filling valve to a position beneath the next and from the last filling valve to a position beneath the capping device. each filling valve and capping device being-operable solely by the engagenuynt of a bottle therewith. and means for cooperatively actuatii'ig said bottle advancing means and said elevator.

in testimony whereof we have hereunto set our'hands.

THEODORE L. VALERIUS. 

